Two-platen hand addressing-machine.



- u. 6. LEE. TWO PLATEN HAND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-10' I9 l5 v Patented Aug. 6, 1918. 3 SHEETS-$HEET I m: mamas PETERS ca. rum-ammo WASHINGTON 0. m

u. 6. LEE. TWO PLAIEN HAND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT" 10. 1915.

1,274,905 Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m: NORRIS FEYERS 60., PHDTO-LITHO.. wnsumomn. n. c.

U. G. LEE.

TWO PLA'TEN HAND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 10. 1915.

1,274,905. Patented Aug; 6, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'n: NORRIS PETERS m,P:-1a1o-r.1mo.. WAsHlNnmn. n. c

U D TA S PATENT OFFICE;

ULYSSES e. LEE, or CHICAGO, lttrnoi-s-nssienoaro ADDRESSOGiRAPI-I COMPANY, 01?

' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

Two-PLATEN HAND annnnssmeavmcnmn.

Specification of IiettersPatent. Patented A g. 6, 1918 Application filed September 10,1915. Serial No. 49,889. a

To all whom it may concern: f

\ Be it known that I, ULYSSES G. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Ill nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Two-Platen Hand Addressing-lllachines, of which the following is a specification. q

This invention relates in general to that classof printing machines now generally known as addressing machines, but which are frequently employed to print a great variety of information as Well as addresses. More specifically the invention relates to a printing machine provided with a plurality of separate simultaneously operable platens.

In commercial work, to. which this particular class of printing machine is adapted, it is frequently desirable to produce a plurality of separateimpressions from the same printing member at dilferent' points as, for example, where arecord of the i1npressions'made on envelops, checks, etc.,. is to be preserved, Therecord sheet generally comprises a continuous stripof impression receiving material and it is not only inconvenient toinsert this strip beneath a single platen after the impression but the possibilityof failureto secure a record impression through carelessness of the operator or otherwise makes a record secured in this manner of doubtful value.

It is the object, therefore, of my invention to provide a printing machine havingv a plurality of platens adapted tocooperate with each printing member at difierent points in its path of travel through the machine, whereby a plurality of, impressions may I be made therefrom.

A further ob]ect or my invention is the provisloii of means for moving IIDPICSSIOIP receiving material through the machine, as well as novel means for causing the ribbon through which the impressions are taken to move step by step to continuously present a fresh surface at the impression point.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will. be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, disclosing the preferred embodiment thereof, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a printing machine according to my invention;

Fig. 2'is.a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33-of Fig. 2; I Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of ratchet mechanism for'operating the feed rolls for the impression-receiving material. Referring to the drawin s, lindicates a suitable base, preferably 0 cast metal and hollow to lighten the structure and to house a portion ofv the operating mechanism. Mounted in suitable bearings supported on thebase 1 is a rock shaft 2, having an operating handle 8 secured thereto. Clutch collars 4c are secured tothe shaft 2 at spaced intervals and provided with teeth 5 adapted to be engaged by corresponding teeth 6 formed on the hubs 7 of the platen arms 8. Aset screw 9 is disposed through the hub 7 and adapted to engage the shaft 2 to secure the hub 7. from movement longitudinally thereof. As. will be readily understood the platen arms 8 are thus secured to the rock shaft 2 and areadjustable thereon, so that either of the platens 10, secured to the platen arms 8, may be so disposed as to be in inoperative position when desired. Springs 23 secured to the pins 4 and 5 mounted on the platen arms 8 and the base, respectively, normally, maintain the platen arms 8 in their upper position.

Secured to the rock shaft 2 isanarm 11 having'a roller 12 pivotallymounted thereon which is adapted to engage a track 13 se cured to a rock shaft extending longitu' dinally ofthe machine, whereby the shaft 14 will be rocked when the shaft 2 is actuated by the hand lever 3, the extreme positio ns of the track 13 being clearly indicated in Fig. 4. The rock shaft 14 is provided at one extremitywith a bevel gear 15 which meshes with a pair of bevel pin-ions 1 -6, loosely mounted on a. transverse shaft 17 The bevel pinions 16 are' provided with ratchet teeth :18 which are adapted to be en gaged by the pawls 19 pivotally mounted on pins 20-carried by the collars '21 which are in turnsecured to the shaft 17. Springs 22, I

secured to the pawls 19 and to pins 23 opposite sides of the shaft 14, rotate in opposite directions with. respect to eachother. The pawls 19 alternately engage and idle over the ratched teeth on therespective bevel pinions, each pawl engaging its pinionwhen the latter is rotating in the desired direction of rotation of the shaft 17, which is thus caused to rotate step by step.

The transverse shaft 17 is provided at one end with a sprocket 24 which drives a chain conveyer 25, having upstanding lugs 26 secured thereto at intervals, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. A sprocket 27 is mounted on a stub shaft 28 at the opposite end of the machine. The chain conveyer 25 is disposed about said sprocket 27.

A magazine 29 is secured to the base 1 at I one end thereof and as will be readily understood the lugs 26 passing beneath the magazine 29 will withdraw the printing plates, of any suitable form, therefrom and move them along the bed in position to allow impressions to be taken therefrom when the platens 10 are actuated. The conveyer-actu ating means isso arranged that movement is imparted to the chain conveyer 25 through the medium of the ratchets 18' and pawls 19 at each movement of the platens, the chain conveyor 25 moving a distance substantially equal to one-half the length of the printing member when the platens move upwardly and a substantially equal distance when the platens move downwardly. This arrangement prevents too' great a momentum n the printing members and consequent overthrow thereof which would result in failure of the printing members to register properly with the platens 10.

The impressions are preferably taken through a ribbon 30 which is mounted on spools 31', suitably secured to the shafts v32, rotatably mounted in brackets 33, beneath the base 1. The ribbon 30 is disposed through the 'guides34 which change the direction of movement of the ribbon. The shafts 32 are provided with knurled buttons 35 at their extremities, whereby the spools 31 may be manually rotated to move the ribbon 30 along the bed of the machine. At their adjacent ends the shafts 32 are provided with ratchets 36 secured thereto and each adapted to be engaged by a pawl 37 pivotally secured to a crank arm 38 fastened to the rock shaft 14. A shaft 39, having an operating handle 40, is disposed longitudinally of the machine and provided at its extremity with a pair of disks 41 having pins 42 secured thereto and adapted to vengage beneath the respective pawls The pins 42 are angularly' disposed with respect to each other and, as is clearlv shown in Fig. 5, one of the pawls 37 willbe held from engagementwi'th the corresponding ratchet 36 when the other pawl 37 engages itscorrespond'ing ratchet. Hence by manipulating the shaft 39 one or the other of the shafts 32 may be actuated from the rock shaft 14 and the ribbon 30 will be automatically moved to continuously present a fresh surface beneath the platens 10 as the machine is operated.

Y Secured to the rock shaft 14 is a collar 43 provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth 44. A gear wheel 45 is loosely mounted on the shaft 14 and is provided with pawls 46 adapted to cooperate with the ratchet teeth on the collar 43. A pinion 47 is mounted on a stub shaft 48, which carries a friction roll 49 adapted to cooperate with a roll 50 mounted on an arm 51. This arm 51 is pivotally mounted on arm 52 loosely mounted on shaft 52 and is normallypressed into cooperative relation with the roll 49 "by spring 53.

An upstanding arm 53 formed integrally with the arm 52 is connected by a pin 54 to a link 57, the opposite end of which is secured to an eccentric pin 58 on a stub shaft 59 suitably supported on the base 1. The stub shaft 59 is provided with an operating handle 60. When the stub shaft 59 is r0- tated by means of the operating handle 60 in a clockwise direction, viewing Figs. 4'a'nd 5, the arm 52 is rocked through the eccentric pin 58, the lin 57, thepin 54 and the arm 53 to lift the roll 50 from engagement with the roll 49 or in other words to inoperative position; When the stub shaft 59 is rotated in the opposite direction the roll '50 is again moved to operative position. The impressionreceiving material is disposed between'the rolls 49 and 50 and since the roll 49 is positively moved in one direction as the platens 10 move toward 'and'from printing position it will be readily understood that the impres-' sion-receiving material may be moved between each impression a distance sufficient to allow an impression from'the next succeeding plate to be taken thereon.

In the drawing I have illustrated rolls 49 and 50 adjacent each of the platens 10 but it is to be understood that the forwarding mechanisn'i for the impressioirreceiving material may be omitted in connection 'with either of the platens and that where more than two platens are provided corresponding mechanismfor forwarding the impression receiving material may be employed in connection therewith.

The operation of my improved printing machine should be readily understood without further description of the structure thereof. As the operating handle 3 is moved the platens 10 are carried toward and fromprinti'ng position to cotiperate with the printing members which print through the ribbon upon the impressionreceiving material in the usual and wellknown manner. The printing members are moved step by step from the magazine 29 longitudinally of the machine beneath the platens 10, as previously explained, the ribbon 30 moving a short distance at each actuation of the platens 10 to. present a fresh surface to the printing members. Envelops, checks,'etc., may be fed by hand to receive impressions from one of the platens 10 while a continuous strip of impressionreceiving material may be moved by the rolls 49 and 50 transversely of the machine beneath the other platens. Each plate which passes from the magazine will come to rest beneath both of the platens 10 in succession and hence an impression .may be made from the printing member on both the envelop or check and the strip of impression-receiving material which serves as a record of the impressions made. If the record is unnecessary either of the platens 10 may be moved and secured in inoperative position and the machine may then be employed as a single platen machine. It will be readily understood that I have perfected a printing machine which is adaptable to numerous uses for which a single platen machine may not be used and that the numerous features of novelty cooperate to produce results heretofore impossible in machines of this character.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodimentthereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, thecombination of a bed, a pivotally mounted shaft, a plurality of independent arms secured to said shaft and adjustable thereon to operative and inoperative positions, a platen mounted on each arm, actuating means for said shaft and means for moving printing members along said bed and adapted to position said members successively beneath said platens.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed, a plurality of independent armssecured to said shaft and adjustable thereon to operative and inoperative positions, a platen mounted on each arm, actuating means for said shaft, means for moving printing members along said bed and adapted to position said mem bers successively beneath said platens, and means forautomatically moving impression receiving material transversely of said bed beneath said platens.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of'a bed, a pivot for moving printing members along said bed and adapted to position said members successively beneath said platens.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combinationof a bed, a pivotally mounted shaft, actuating means there for automatically moving impression. re-

ceiving material transversely of said bed beneath said platens.

. 5. In a machine of the character described, the comb nation of a bed, a plurality of pivotally mounted arms independently ad-1 justable to operative andinoperative posit1 0ns,a platen mounted on each of said arms, means for manually and simultaneously sw nging sald arms to cause said platens to str ke nnpression blows and means for moving prlnting members along said bed and adapted to position said members successively beneath said platens.

6. In amachine of the character described, the combination of a bed, a pivotally mounted shaft, a plurality of arms independently adjustable on said. shaft to operative and inoperative positions, .a platen mounted on each of said arms, means for swinging said arms and means for moving printing mem bers along said bed and adapted to position said members successively, beneath said platens. U v

' In amachine of the character described, the combination of a bed, a pivotally mountedshaft, a plurality of armsmounted-on said shaft and independently adjustable to operative and inoperative positions, a platen secured to each of said arms, manually operable means for swinging said arms, a magazine, means for moving printing membersv from said magazine-along said bed and adapted to position said members succesively beneath said platens and means for automatically moving the impression receiving material. beneath said platens.

8. .In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed, a magazine at one end thereof, means for moving printing members in spaced relation along said bed, a shaft, a plurality of arms independently'adjustable on said shaft to operative and inoperative positions, a platen mounted on each of said arms, manually operable means for rocking said shaft-to simultaneously move said platens toward and from printing position, and connecting means between said;

shaft and. said first mentioned means whereby said printing members are moved successively beneath said platens.

' 9. Inamachine of the character described, the combination of a bed, amagazine at one end thereof, means for moving printing members inspaced relation along said bed, a shaft, aplurality of arms mounted there on, an independent platen mounted on each of said arms, means for-rocking said shaft to simultaneously move-the'platens toward and from' said bed, and connecting means between said shaft and said first-mentioned means, whereby said printing membersare moved forward partway toward printing position as said platens'move to printing position and partway towardyprinting -position as said platens return to normal position.

10. In a machine of the character described,' the combination ofa bed,a magazine at one end thereof, means for-moving printing members in spaced relation along said bed, a shaft, a pluralityof arms mounted thereon, an independent platen mounted on each ofsaid arms; manually-operable means for rocking-said shaft to move the platens toward and from said bed, and pawl and ratchet connecting means between said shaft and said first-mentioned 'means; whereby said printing'members are moved forward toward. printing position *a distance substantially equal -'to one-half of their lengthas said platens move to printing position and an equal distance toward'printing position as said platens return to normal position.

-11. In a machine' of the character described, the combination -of*a bed, a magazine at one end thereof, means forinoving printing members in spaced relation along said bed, a shaft, a plurality of arms mounted thereon, an independent platen mounted on each of said arms, means for rocking-said shaft to simultaneously -move the platens toward and from said bed, a bevel gear 0pera'tively connected-to said shaft, a transverse shaft,*bevel gears loosely mounted thereon, collarsfixed thereto, pawl and ratchet connections between saidbevel gears and col lars, and a driving connection between said transverse shaft and said first-mentioned means, whereby said printing members are moved forward tow-ard'printing position a distance substantially equal to one-half their length assaid platens move to printingposition and an equal distance toward printing'position as said platens-return to normal position.

12J-In annachine of the characterde scribed, the combination of abed, means-for moving-printingdevices along said bed, a shaft, a{ plurality of arms secured thereto, an independent platen mounted on each of said arms, means for rocking said shaft-,a second shaft, connections between said shafts, whereby saidgsecond shaft-is rocked with said first-mentioned shaft, and connections betweensaid second shaft and said first-mentioned means, whereby said printing devices are caused to be successively-positioned beneath said platens.

13. 111 a -machine of the character described, the combination of-abed, means for moving printing devices along said bed, a shaft,-=a plurality of arms secured thereto, an independent platen IDOllHtGd'OII'QZLCh of said arms, meansfor-rocking said shaft, a second shaft, an arm on said first shaft bearing a roller, a slotted arm connected to said second shaft andadapted to be'engaged by said roller, whereby said second shaft is rocked with said first-mentioned shaft,and connections between said second shaft and said first-mentioned 'means, whereby said printingmembers are caused-to be successively positioned beneath said platens.

lei. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed, means for moving printing devices along said bed, a. shaft, means for'rocking said shaft, a plurality of arms secured to said $haft,:.an independent platen mounted on each of said arms, a second shaft, connections between said shafts, whereby said second shaft is rocked with said first-mentioned shaft, a ribbon disposed over said bed, and means actuated by said second shaft to cause said ribbon to move along said" bed.

15/111 a machine of the character described, the combination of a,- bed, means for moving printing devices along said bed,

a shaft, means for-rocking said shaft, a plurality of arms secured to said shaft, an independent platen mounted on each of said arms, a second shaft, connections between said shafts, whereby said second shaft is rocked with said first-mentioned shaft, a ribbon disposed over said bed, and means to cause said ribbon'to move along said bed comprising a-pair of shafts, spools thereon, ratchets connected thereto, and pawls operatively connected to Said second shaft and adapted to engage said ratchets.

16. In a machine of the character deing one of said pawls to inoperativeposition.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of abed, means for-moving printing members along said bed, a'shaft, a plurality of arms secured to said shaft, an independent platen mounted on each of said arms, manually operable means for rocking said shaft, a second shaft,

connections between said shafts, whereby said second shaft is rocked with said firstmentioned shaft, a ribbon disposed over said bed, means for moving said ribbon along said bed, and operative connections between said second shaft and said printing member moving means and between said second shaft and said ribbon moving means. I

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed, means for moving printing members along said bed, a shaft, a plurality of arms secured to said shaft, an independent platen mounted on each of said arms, means for rocking said shaft, a second shaft, connections between said shafts, whereby said second shaft is rocked with said firstanentioned shaft, means for moving impression-receiving material transversely of said bed beneath the platens, and operative connections between said second shaft and said last-mentioned means.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed, a platen arm supportin shaft, a platen arm on said supporting shaft carrying a platen adapted to cooperate with said bed, a second shaft, means connected to said second shaft to advance printing devices along said bed, connections between said shafts whereby said second shaft is rocked with said first mentioned shaft, and means for moving impression receiving material transversely of said bed beyond said platen comprising a positively driven roll, a driving connection between said second shaft and roll and a resiliently mounted roll disposed in cooperative relation with said driven roll.

20, In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed, a platen arm supporting shaft, a platen arm on said supporting shaft carrying a platen adapted to cooperate with said bed, a second shaft, means connected to said second shaft to advance printing devices along said bed, connections between said shafts whereby said second shaft is rocked with said first mentioned shaft, and means for moving impression receiving material transversely of said bed beneath said platen, comprising a positively driven roll, driving connections between said second shaft and roll, a resiliently mounted roll disposed in cooperative relation with said driven. roll, and means for moving said resiliently mounted roll into and out of operative position.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed, means for moving printing members along said bed, a shaft, a plurality of arms secured to said shaft, an independent platen mounted on each of said arms, means for rocking said shaft, a second shaft, connections between said shafts, whereby said second shaft is rocked with said first-mentioned shaft, a ribbon, means for moving said ribbon along said bed, means for moving impression-receiving material transversely of said bed, and operative connections between said second shaft and said ribbon moving means and between said second shaft and said impression-receiving material moving means.

ULYSSES G. LEE.

Witnesses:

WM. 0. BELT, M. A. KIDDLE.

Gopi-es of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

